Shemeka Acey Roy will be named the first female Commander of American Legion Post 510 in Leesville, and the first female commander in Louisiana, at a ceremony on Saturday, June 15 at the Post.
Roy was also named the Blue Cap Winner, the first woman to receive the award in 53 years.
She is a Leesville native, and a graduate of Leesville High School.
"I told my Mom I wanted to join the military after high school," said Roy. "She was very supportive."
Roy joined the U.S. Navy and reported to Norfolk, Virginia. She traveled to Great Lakes, Illinois, Bayport, Florida; Malta, Greece, Spain North Africa, United Arab Emirates, and Sierra Leone.
She achieved the rank of HM3, Hospital Corpsman Third Class.
"I loved the travel and the people," she said. "I am still in touch with them every day."
Roy was surprised when she ran into people from her hometown in the Navy. She met B.J. Chambers from Pickering when she reported to the USS Iwo Jima. Another Navy serviceman, Husani Smith, was in JROTC with her at Leesville High.
Roy was crushed when she had to leave the Navy after three and a half years due to a medical issue.
"I wanted to stay in 20 years, and I was lost when I received a medical discharge," she said.
Roy was offered a job at Naval Medical Hospital Portsmouth. She returned to Louisiana for a week's vacation, but decided to report to work after only three days.
Then a phone call came which changed everything.
"Dr. Kanchan Upadhyay called to tell me my mother's breast cancer had come back," she said. "I am an only child. I said I can be in Leesville in 72 hours on emergency leave. I came down to take care of my Mom."
Roy's mother passed away in 2011.
She had joined the American Legion in 2006, but now became very active.
"I was in a deep depression and I needed something to do," she said. "I got serious once I came out of the dark."
The M.C. "Mike" Gehr Blue Cap Award is awarded annually to an individual who is hard working, dependable, and volunteers at their Post.
"I am amazed," said Roy. "I was just doing what I thought I was supposed to be doing. I didn't know I had surpassed post and state expectations."
She is proud of her achievement, her hard work, and dedication.
"I was just a little girl with a dream of leaving Leesville one day," said Roy. "I am thankful to the military, a lot of milestones were accomplished. I got to see the world."
Roy has an A.A. degree in social science from Tidewater Community College in Norfolk, Va. She is thinking of returning to school to study nursing.
"I would love to work at a VA hospital," she said. "I just want to give back to the veterans, to help them."
She will celebrate 11 years of marriage to Robert Roy in August. He is from DeRidder, and is a welder.
When she isn't busy at the Post, Roy enjoys reading and visiting with friends.
The public is invited to the ceremony at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Post 510, located at 703 N. Gladys St. in downtown Leesville.